Jupiter Optimus Maximus Heliopolitanus

Jupiter Optimus Maximus Heliopolitanus (IOMH, also Jupiter Heliopolitanus) was a syncretic supreme god venerated in the great temple of Baalbek, in modern-day Lebanon. The cult of Jupiter Heliopolitanus evolved from the ancient Canaanite religion, particularly the worship of the storm and fertility god Baal-Hadad. Baal, meaning "lord" or "master," was a title used for various local deities, while Hadad was specifically revered as the god of rain, thunder, and storms, closely linked to agricultural fertility. Over time, the cult of Baal-Hadad in Baalbek acquired solar characteristics, possibly due to Hellenistic influences that equated Baal-Hadad with the Greek sun god Helios. This syncretism continued under Roman rule, with the deity further merging attributes with the Roman god Jupiter, culminating in the construction of a monumental temple complex dedicated to Jupiter Heliopolitanus in the second century AD. The temple was renowned for its oracular functions and served as a significant center of divination, with the cult of Heliopolitan Jupiter spreading throughout the Roman Empire.